The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 3d 'TALKER" USED TO GIVE RETURNS At Recent Municipal Election Held in Belfast, Ireland — Papers Slow in Comparison. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Belfast, Ireland, Feb. 3, 1908. The talking machine enjoyed what is popularly described as "a field day" on Jan. 15, in connection with the Belfast municipal elections. Under special arrangement made between the Citizens' Association and T. Edens Osborne, the name's of the successful candidates for each of the thirteen city wards (or districts) were, as soon as officially declared, recorded by the said gentleman personally on a Pathe blank placed on an Edison "Standard"; the record thus made was instantly transferred to a "sound-magnifying Columbia phonograph," and reproduced, in fact, "thundered forth," through a 56-inch copper trumpet from the second fioor of the association's ofiices, to a dense crowd assembled in the leading thorouglifare of the city — Royal avenue. Simultaneously the same information was flashed on a screen (erected at a right angle to the facade of the building), by a limelight lantern. This novel combination of light and sound appealed to both eye and ear of the assembled citizens, and was warmly appreciated. Evidently the Belfast evening papers — who made no allusion to the demonstration— were jealous becalise the crowd referred to had been phonographed the election results long before the said papers could paragraph the news in "cold type." LIST PRICES AND DISCOUNTS. The Subject of a Very Interesting Chat With J. Newcomb Blackman — Why Small Manufacturers Fail to Sell More Supplies. List prices and discounts and their effect on the sale of supplies have been the subject of careful study by J. Newcomb Blackman, proprietor Blackman Talking Machine Co.. and in a recent chat with The World, he said: "We are almost daily approached by people who have something new to offer in the talking machine supply line. In most cases the list price is so high that the retail sale would be very limited. In other cases the discounts offered to the jobber and dealer are so small as to offer very little inducement. "The successful sale of an article depends first upon its merit; second, in standing back of the goodj; third, in a liberal campaign of advertising, to let people know that you have something good to offer; fourth, in providing profit for the jobber and dealer that will pay him to fill the demand and push the further sale of the goods. "I am often criticized for not selling many articles because the discounts are not suflieient for both jobber and dealer, but this is usually where the profit is less than is made on machines and records. "Records and machines are sold by the thousands, and fortunes are spent by the manufacturer in creating a demand. I therefore argue that the dealer or jobber cannot be expected to create the demand on a small supply article, and then be satisfied with much less profit than he makes on machines or records. I have made it a point on whatever supplies I market to make the list price low and the discounts large for both the jobber and dealer, for I do not think that small articles will receive the attention that is required to make a success unless the profit is at least as much as on machines and records. "The talking machine and record business is so firmly established on a price restriction basis that it is also essential to offer the same protection when possible even on supplies. I would rather sell 10,000 of an article of merit under a liberal policy than 5,000 bringing the net profit the same but without a liberal policy, for in the former case the additional 5,000 sales advertise and stimulate the further sale of the goods. These facts may enlighten some mantifacturers of supplies and account for the failure of large sales in some cases." CASH SALES PREDOMINATE In Cincinnati With an Increasing Demand for High Grade Machines — A Clever Wurlitzer Window — Run on Merry Widow Records — Link's Clever System of Handling Records. (Special to The Talldng Machine World.) Cincinnati, 0., Fdh. 12, 1908. The trade conditions in and about Cincinnati during January have been peculiar — much out of the ordinary. Business has been good, but sales have included few large orders, and everything is on a cash basis. The peculiar feature is that record-breaking sales of last fall should have been almost wholly along credit lines, and when business subsided to more conservative proportions, that no credit was asked, but the cash was immediately forthcoming. An unwarranted over-developed conservatism is probably the explanation. The house of Wurlitzer reports a gradual and gratifying betterment of business conditions generally, and as usual, are contributing their share toward bringing it about. One of the Wurlitzer show windows that has attracted much attention on Fourth street contains an original exhibit in the form of a Japanese pagoda built of Japanese bamboo, and the "fiber needle" in the various stages and processes of manufacture, from the rough stalk to the highly polished "fiber needle." The. Kentucky tobacco troubles have affected the local jobbers considerably, and until they are settled in some way, the effects will prevail. The salesmen throughout the town whose duties demand that they become familiar with the "airs that charm," especially referring to the handling of records and sheet music, are of one mind with the victim or hero of the new song, "I'm Looking for the Man that Wrote The Merry Widow." If there ever was a drive — a piece of music that was a fad, "The Merry Widow" is it. Whenever a customer steps up, the salesman automatically and unconsciously reaches for the record or the music of "The Merry Widow." George' H. Link, 1711 Vine street, has a very INDESTRUCTIBLES ARE TRUMPS And wc hold the Tftimp Catd The Norcross Reproducer Constructed Especially for Indestructible Records. Produces an unparalleled volume of tone, and immeasurably superior to anything in its class. It reproduces the human voice as nature created it— in all its fullness and purity. It does not sound like a machine— It's the real thing. PRICE (including wood diaphragm) $7.50. Type for Edison machines now ready. That for Columbias to follow soon. The biggest surprise to the talking machine commonity in years. THE DIAPHRAGM IS KING OUR LATEST NOVELTY IS THE WOOD DIAPHRAQAl F'or IVfodel C and Columbia Reproducers When subjected to the impact of sound wood is the most resilient of all known substances. This is proven by its successful use in violin bodies and sounding boards for pianos. No other material can take its place. By a new and novel process we have succeeded in making a four-ply composite diaphragm, two of very thin wood and two of cotton stalk tissue, all of which is compressed within a thickness of 6/lOOOths of an inch. The reproduction by this diaphragm is truly marvelous. Every detail of sound and tone finesse that is capable of being recorded is brought out by this invention. It proves conclusively that the art of recording has been far in advance of the methods of reproduction. PRICE, INCLUDING CROSS HEAD AND LI>K, $1 EACH. Don't be slow. Get tfp to date qtfick. Norcr OSS Phonograph Co. New Lang BIdg., 662 Sixth Ave. (39th St.) == NEW YORK CITY ^=